EP0049443A1 - Collapsible handling pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Decomposable shelf-forming pallet for transport and inter-departmental storage of semi, intermediate, or finished products, comprising a frame consisting of tubes in the form of a parallelepiped with substantially two similar oppositely disposed side members (10, 12) and plugged-in horizontal connecting rods (32), therebetween, characterized in that both U-shaped side members (10, 12) disposed with their open side in front of each other include two leg frames (18, 20) extending within the plane of said U-legs, which are connected to each other by frame members (14, 16) extending in the plane of the U-web and forming edges of the parallelepiped, in that said two leg frames (18, 20) consist of longitudinal tubes (26, 28) having lateral tubes (22, 24) disposed between them, while said connecting rods (32) provided with stop means are plugged-in into the open ends of said longitudinal tubes, further in that said two side members (10, 12) in the area of their leg frames are braced by means of thightening bolts (34) against each other and against the stops of the connecting rods (32), and in that those frame members (14, 16) forming vertical edges of the parallelepiped are provided with fixture means (40) for vertically adjustable mounting of intermediate bottoms (48).

Description

The invention relates to a collapsible shelf pallet, preferably for internal use for the storage of semi-finished, intermediate or finished products and for transport with the aid of a forklift or shelf conveyor vehicle, with a frame consisting of pipes, rectangular in plan, which is provided with support feet.

In the field of shelf construction, it is known to combine matching individual parts such as supports, side members and cross members in a grid system using corner connecting elements to form shelves of largely variable dimensions. The starting material is usually formed by angled profiles made of perforated sheet metal or also tubular profiles. When such shelves are set up, their static load capacity is almost always sufficient for the given requirements; however, they are not transportable when assembled and certainly not when they are filled.

On the other hand, for intermediate storage and for the transport of industrial goods, under-loadable loading platforms are known which, although they can be stacked several times and then form intermediate shelves in the manner of a shelf, cannot be transported as a uniform stack in this form and in a loaded state. - So-called stacking pallets are used for the storage and transport of smaller piece goods or bulk goods and can be stacked on top of one another. They are closed all around by side walls, which give them a certain stiffness. When stacked, however, these stacking pallets can only be used to a limited extent in the sense of a shelf, since mostly the side walls block access to the objects lying on the pallet floor.

Due to the variety and diversity of the goods to be stored, the known loading platforms, containers, pallets, additional devices or stacking pallets would have to be available for each place of use in several different heights, especially with different support leg heights, so that they could be stacked on top of each other; Because in order to make the best possible use of space in such a stacking technique, piece goods of greater height do not actually require pallets with correspondingly high heights Sidewalls, but rather a sufficient distance from the next higher pallet, which is then best guaranteed by pallets with the corresponding support foot height. However, this means that a pallet must already be selected during loading so that its support feet are adapted to the height of the products placed on the next lower pallet. Such preprogramming is in most cases practically not feasible because of the effort involved, all the more so since the known loading platforms or stacking pallets are mainly characterized by their standardization and are not designed for the described purpose.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a collapsible shelf pallet of the type mentioned, which for the purpose of simplified production, space-saving shipping and storage should consist of little bulky items that can be assembled very easily, so that one is done Assembled shelf pallet with great stability and torsional rigidity arises, which is so stable even when loaded that it can be safely picked up by a forklift truck or a shelf conveyor vehicle and can be transported and can be combined with other identical shelf pallets to shelf arrangements of greater height and any width if necessary.

• a) der Rahmen umfaßt zwei gleiche U-förmige Seitenteile, die mit ihren offenen Seiten einander gegenüberstehen und jeweils aus zwei unter Abstand zueinander gehaltenen Eckpfosten mit davon ausgehenden oberen und unteren waagerechten Anschlußrahmen bestehen,
• b) die Anschlußrahmen enthalten jeweils in gleicher Ebene und vorzugsweise parallel zueinander in Tiefenrichtung verlaufende Versteifungsrohre,
• c) in mit ihren offenen Seiten gegenüberliegende und miteinander fluchtende Längsrohre der Anschlußrahmen sind Verbindungsstangen eingesteckt, die die vier Längsseiten des Regals bilden,
• d) die beiden Seitenteile sind mit Hilfe von Spannschrauben gegeneinander bzw. gegen die Tiefenanschläge der Verbindungsstangen verspannt,
• e) die Seitenteile enthalten je zwei in Tiefenrichtung unter Abstand stehende, senkrechte Folgen von Aufnahmen zur höhenverstellbaren Halterung von Auflagewinkeln für Zwischenböden.

To solve this problem, a dismountable shelf pallet according to the invention is characterized by the following features:

• a) the frame comprises two identical U-shaped side parts which face each other with their open sides and each consist of two corner posts held at a distance from one another with upper and lower horizontal connecting frames proceeding therefrom,
• b) the lead frames each contain reinforcing tubes running in the same plane and preferably parallel to one another in the depth direction,
• c) connecting rods, which form the four long sides of the shelf, are inserted into longitudinal tubes of the connecting frames, which are opposite and aligned with one another,
• d) the two side parts are clamped against one another or against the depth stops of the connecting rods using clamping screws,
• e) the side parts each contain two vertical sequences of recordings spaced apart in the depth direction for the height-adjustable mounting of support angles for intermediate floors.

With this proposal, a new type of pallet with intermediate floors is created, which can be easily assembled and folded for the purpose of space-saving shipping or for storage in a relatively narrow space. The manufacture of the individual parts of this pallet is simplified and facilitated in that the processing is only to be carried out on the dismantled, relatively small individual parts, which take up little space, are light in weight and can be handled easily. The U-shaped side parts give the pallet a Exceptional rigidity, to which the mutual bracing of the side parts with the help of the clamping screws also contributes. This creates a rigid, spatial frame, which is essentially formed from the four corner posts, the four stiffening tubes running on the top and bottom between the corner posts and by the four connecting rods, which together with the longitudinal tubes of the connecting frame, the longitudinal edges of the form a spatial framework that is accessible from all four sides.

In this stiffened, spatial frame, support brackets can be placed on the intermediate shelves, which can be adjusted at any distance, in addition to a sub-floor, which is placed on the lower connecting frames and the lower connecting rods, and a top floor, which is placed on the upper connecting frames and their connecting rods. The adjustable shelves do not need to be used to increase the torsional stiffness, as is the case with known shelves, because the rigidity of the spatial frame is so great even with loaded shelves that it can then be used as a pallet as a whole by a forklift truck, a shelf conveyor vehicle or the like Transport funds can be driven under from each side, raised, transported and put down again. It is at the discretion of the user to use any number of shelves depending on the type and size of the objects to be stored.

The term "shelf pallet" used in connection with the subject matter of the invention is to be understood both in the sense that the spatial frame provided with intermediate shelves forms a shelf-like storage means for the best possible use of the available storage space, thus simultaneously the access time and the amount of work when assembling the most varied of products large orders can be shortened or simplified while this shelf can be transported as a pallet as a whole to the respective needs. On the other hand, the shelf according to the invention is to be understood as a transport pallet, which, like other ordinary pallets, is placed with the goods stored thereon in large-scale shelves of warehouses or shipping warehouses in order to better utilize the available storage space there, z. B. the picking either takes place directly from there or individual shelving pallets can be brought from such large-scale shelves to a picking station or to a location for refilling. For this purpose, the shelf pallet can, for example, also be placed on a wooden underbody or a wooden pallet for the purpose of further transport on a roller conveyor or the like.

According to a further feature of the invention, such shelf pallets can also be placed directly one above the other to form storage blocks, since the rigidity and load-bearing capacity of the spatial frame is sufficient to serve as a base for several shelves placed above.

Preferably, each lead frame comprises two longitudinal tubes extending from the corner posts of the side parts and two stiffening tubes, one of which between the corner posts and the other between the free ends of the Longitudinal pipes is connected. Since the horizontal distance at least between a lower connection frame and the adjacent stiffening tube of the opposite connection frame is smaller than the length of a lifting fork of a forklift truck, rack conveyor vehicle or other means of transport, the stiffening tubes of the connection frame also have the task of serving as a receiving base, which has its own weight transfers the shelf pallet plus the objects stored in it and also the acceleration forces during transport to the lifting fork, so that such forces are distributed over the two U-shaped side parts.

Appropriately, the vertical sequences of receptacles for the support angles are provided in the form of punched holes in two sheet metal plates, each welded flush to the inside of the frame on the corner posts and on the upper and lower stiffening pipes running between them: .nd. These welded-in sheet metal plates or strips contribute to the stiffening of the side parts and are easily accessible for hanging in the support brackets, since they are flush with the inside of the frame.

The intermediate floors can be stiffened by longitudinal pipes that are welded to their underside rest on the support brackets or on the lead frame.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische, perspektivische Ansicht einer zusammengesetzten Regalpalette nach der Erfindung,
• Fig. 2 eine Detaildarstellung aus dem Bereich eines Auflagewinkels mit Zwischenboden und
• Fig. 3 eine von unten gesehene Draufsicht auf den Eckbereich eines Anschlußrahmens mit Stützfuß.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the claims and the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings. Show it

• 1 is a schematic perspective view of an assembled shelf pallet according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 is a detailed view from the area of a support angle with intermediate floor and
• Fig. 3 is a plan view seen from below of the corner region of a lead frame with a support foot.

The shelf pallet according to the invention comprises two preferably identical U-shaped side parts 1 ₀ , 12, which are made of a welded construction using square tube with a square cross section, although tubes with a rectangular or circular profile can also be used. Each side part contains two corner posts 14, 16, which are kept at a distance in the depth direction by an upper lead frame 18 and a lower lead frame 20. Both connection frames 18, 20o extend horizontally and at right angles to the corner posts 14, 16 and each contain, in the same plane, a stiffening :: ear 22 running in the depth direction, which is welded between the corner posts 14, 16, and a further stiffening tube 24 running parallel thereto The stiffening tube 24 is welded between two shorter longitudinal tubes 26, 28 which extend at right angles from the upper and lower ends of the rear posts 14, 16.

The corner posts 14, 16 are open at the top and bottom and may protrude slightly above the height of the upper connection frames 18 at their upper ends in order to serve as a limitation and alignment aid for the feet of a stacked shelf pallet. Instead of special feet, the corner posts 14, 16 could also be extended so far down over the lower connecting frame 2o that the shelf pallet only stands on the corner posts and a sufficient clearance height for the lifting fork of a conveyor vehicle is ensured.

The end faces of the longitudinal tubes 26, 28 of the lead frames are open and serve as receptacles for insertable extensions 3o of connecting rods 32. The Ver Tie rods 32 preferably consist of the same profile as the longitudinal tubes 26, 28, the extensions consisting of welded or welded profiles with a correspondingly smaller cross section. The end faces of the connecting rods 32 thus serve as depth stops.

The perimetrical frame of the shelf range produced so far by plugging receives a further strength and rigidity by clamping screws or threaded spindles 34 which are inserted through openings 36 in the reinforcing pipes 24 and provided with non-shown washers and screw nuts, by means of which the two side parts 1 _0, 12 are clamped together at the level of the lead frames.

On the narrow sides of the shelf pallet, two vertically extending sheet metal plates 38 are fastened, which contain a series of openings in the form of punched holes 4o over their entire height. The sheet metal plates 38 are welded with their one longitudinal edge to the respective corner posts 14 and 16 and with their narrow edges to the upper and lower stiffening tubes 12 in such a way that they with the clear opening of the surrounding frame are approximately flush. Support angles 42 corresponding to FIG. 2 with protrusions 44, 46 extending therefrom can be inserted into the cutouts 4o at any height. The length of the support bracket 42 can extend over the inside of the adjacent corner posts 14, 16. An intermediate base 48, which preferably consists of sheet metal and is sufficiently stiffened by longitudinal pipes 5o welded to its underside, is placed on two support angles 42 inserted at the same height on the opposite side parts 10, 12. The intermediate floor 48 rests with the stiffening tubes on the support bracket 42 and is provided on its longitudinal edges with downward bends 52 which cover the ends of the support bracket 42. In addition, an underside (not shown) is provided for the pallet rack, which rests on the lower connection frame 2o and its connecting rods 32, and a not shown cover bottom, which rests on the upper connection frame 18 and its connecting rods 32.

1 and 3, support feet 54 made of upright sheet metal are welded to the undersides of the lower connection frames 20. The support footplate is on to enable stacking of pallets the point 56 bent so that it still runs past the corner post 14 within the plan area, so that the extended upper ends of the corner posts are effective as a positioning receptacle for the angled regions 56 of the support feet of the pallet to be placed above them. Instead of an extension of the corner posts, insertable bolts can also be provided if necessary, which then fulfill the same task. The support feet 54 are each provided with a lower, horizontal standing plate 58. Other types of supports are also possible, e.g. B. those that are suitable for placement on a wooden pallet.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawing, but also includes various variants that result from modifications or additional features. An additional increased rigidity of the frame is achieved when the clamping screws 34 are inserted through a connecting tube 32, through the subsequent longitudinal tubes 26 and through openings in vertical end walls of the longitudinal tubes 26, not shown, so that the upper and the lower ones Connection frame 18 or their longitudinal tubes with the help of Finally, allow the supported screw nuts to be braced against the depth stops of the connecting rods 32. The resilience therefore acts directly within the respective frame leg. The vertical end walls of the longitudinal tubes 26 can consist of the adjacent side walls of the corner posts 14, 16. For the purpose of accessibility of the screw nut, at least one outer side wall of the corner posts can be notched at the level of the adjoining longitudinal tube 26.

According to another variant, the shelf pallet can be folded together after removing the upper clamping screws 34 and upper connecting rods 3o, 32. This property is advantageous in some cases because the assembly of the shelf pallet can take place directly in the manufacturer's specialist company, so that the sometimes unsuitable operation of the user of the shelf pallet is not or only insignificantly burdened with such work. The collapsibility of the _R- level pallet is ensured in that the corner posts 14, 16 are judged at a height which corresponds approximately to the length of the upper connecting frame 18. The upper and lower sections of the corner posts divided in this way can be plugged into one another using extensions which are reduced in scope to depth limit stops, similar to that Plug-in of the connecting rods 32 with their extensions 3o into the longitudinal tubes 26. At the same time, the upper and lower sections of the corner posts can be connected to one another by a sliding-articulated connection.

In one embodiment of such an articulated connection, one of the two sections of the corner posts carries an extension which can be inserted into the other section. A hinge pin extends transversely through the other section and also extends through longitudinal slots, preferably slot slots, which extend through the extension attached to one section. In this way, the two sections. move the corner post vertically to each other via the telescopic guide provided by the extension, and they are also coupled to one another via the hinge pin and the slot slots. In order to be able to pivot the upper section of the corner post provided with the extension, the other section has recesses on the side walls running parallel to the hinge pin. The vertical boards 38 can be divided at a similar height to the corner posts 14, 16.

Claims (15)

1. Demountable shelf pallet, preferably for in-house use for the storage of semi-finished, intermediate or finished products and for transport with the aid of a forklift or similar funding, with a frame consisting of pipes, rectangular in plan, which has support feet in the area of its corners due to the following features: a) the frame comprises two identical U-shaped side parts (1 ₀ , 12) which face each other with their open sides and each of two corner posts (14, 16) held at a distance from each other with upper and lower horizontal connecting frames (18 and . 2 ₀ ) exist, c) with their open sides opposing and mutually aligned longitudinal pipes (28, 3 ₀₎ of the lead frame are connecting rods (3o, 32) inserted with depth stops, forming the four longitudinal edges of the shelf frame, d) the two side parts are braced against one another or against the depth stops of the connecting rods (32) with the aid of tensioning screws (34), e) the side parts each contain two vertical sequences of receptacles (4o) at a distance in the depth direction for the height-adjustable mounting of support angles (42) for intermediate floors (48). 2. A shelf pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the corner posts (14, 16) of the side parts consist of tubes which are open upwards and downwards, and that feet (54) are fastened underneath the side parts and which are made with the lower longitudinal tubes (26). and with one of the stiffening tubes (22) of the lead frame welded vertical sheet metal plates. 3. Pallet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized gekennzeicbnet that each lead frame (18, 2 ₀ ) two of the corner post extending longitudinal tubes (26, 28) and two stiffening tubes (22, 24), one of which is connected between the corner posts and the other between the free ends of the longitudinal tubes. 4. _R egal pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping screws (34) through transverse bores (3o) in the mutually adjacent stiffening tubes (24) of two opposite connecting frames and with the help of screw nuts against the depth stops of the interchangeable connecting rods with different lengths ( 3o, 32) are clamped. 5. Pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the horizontal distance at least between a lower connection frame (2o) and the adjacent stiffening tube (24) of the opposite connection frame is smaller than the length of a lifting fork. 6. Pallet according to claim 1, characterized in that the vertical sequences of recordings for the support angle in the form of punched holes (4o) in two sheet metal plates (38) are provided, each of which Corner posts (14, 16) and the intermediate upper and lower stiffening tubes (22) are welded flush to the inside of the frame. 7. Pallet according to claim 6, characterized in that the in the receptacles protrusions (44, 46) provided support bracket (42) extend substantially over the shelf depth, and that the intermediate shelves made of sheet metal (48) on the long sides after are angled down and cover the ends of the support bracket with the bends (52). 8. Pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the intermediate floors, a sub-floor and a top floor are provided for resting on the lower or upper connection frame. 9. Pallet according to claim 8, characterized in that the shelves are stiffened by welded to their underside, longitudinal pipes (5 ₀ ) which rest on the support angles (42) or on the lead frame. 1 ₀ . Shelf pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side parts (1 ₀ , 12) and the connecting rods (32) consist of tubes with a square cross-section, the connecting rods having welded and projecting profiles (32) of smaller cross-section which extend into the Longitudinal tubes (26, 28) of the lead frames are inserted. 11. Pallet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clamping screws (34) each through a connecting tube (32), through the subsequent longitudinal tubes (26) and through openings in the vertical end walls of the longitudinal tubes and with the help of the End walls supported and accessible with tools screw nuts against the depth stops of the connecting rods (3o, 32) are clamped. 12. Pallet according to claim 11, characterized in that the vertical end walls of the longitudinal tubes (26) consist of the adjacent side walls of the corner posts (14, 16), an outer side wall of the corner posts at the level of the subsequent longitudinal tube for the purpose of accessibility Screw nut is recessed. 13. Pallet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it can be folded after removing the upper clamping screws (34) and upper connecting rods (3o, 32) in that the corner posts (14, 16) are divided into a height that approximately corresponds to the length of the upper connection frames (18), the upper and lower sections of the divided corner posts being pluggable into one another using extensions which are reduced in circumference up to depth limit stops and, at the same time, being connected to one another by a sliding-articulated connection. 14. Pallet according to claim 13, characterized in that one of the two articulated sections of the corner posts carries an insertable extension into the other section, that the other section traversing hinge pin extends through longitudinal slots, in particular slot slots of the extension, and that the other Section on the side walls running parallel to the hinge pin has recesses which allow the extension to be pivoted. 15. Pallet according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the vertical boards (38) are divided in height similar to the corner posts.

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